Apparatus and method for individual to maintenance air conditioning unit

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning maintenancing system employs a lifting unit which does not in operation require a specialized support structure that must be used and transported with the lifting unit. Instead the lifting unit is designed for utilization with commonly existing construction equipment that can, after being utilized with the lifting unit, be used at separate locations to carry out different tasks.

This invention relates to air conditioning units.

More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus to maintenance an air conditioning unit.

Those of skill in the art have for many years attempted to improve procedures for maintenancing an air conditioning unit.

Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus to maintenance an air conditioning unit.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the instant invention to provide an improved system to assemble equipment at remote site to maintenance an air conditioning unit at the remote site.

This and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an air conditioning unit maintenancing system constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the system of FIG. 1 illustrating additional construction details thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 illustrating additional construction details thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 illustrating additional construction details thereof; and,

FIG. 5 is a front view of the portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 illustrating the mode of operation thereof.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, provided is an improved method for an individual to maintenance at a remote site an air conditioning unit which includes a compressor. The improved method includes the step of providing at a first location a lifting unit for use in conjunction with a horizontally oriented elongate orthogonal wood plank having an upper surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of parallel spaced apart edges. The lifting unit includes a hollow generally orthogonal housing. The housing includes a top; a bottom opposed to and spaced apart from the top; a first side interconnecting the top and the bottom; a second side interconnecting the top and the bottom and spaced apart and opposed to the first side and pivotally connected to the bottom; a first open end; and, a second open end spaced apart from and opposed to the first open end. The top, bottom, and sides circumscribe a hollow inner area. At least a first pair of wheels is rotatably mounted on the first side in the hollow inner area a first selected distance above the bottom. At least a second pair of wheels is rotatably mounted on the second side in the hollow inner area a second selected distance above the bottom and opposed to and spaced apart from the first pair of wheels. A winch is mounted on and extending outwardly away from the bottom and the hollow inner area. The lifting unit is shaped and dimensioned to mount on the orthogonal wood plank such that the plank extends from and through the first open end to and through the second open end, and intermediate the wheels and the bottom such that the wheels freely roll along the upper surface. The first side and top are pivotally adjustable between two operative positions, a first open operative position which permits said lifting unit to be laterally slid onto the plank, and a second closed operative position. The improved method also includes the steps of mounting the lifting unit on a transport vehicle at a first location separate from the remote work site to maintenance the air conditioning unit; driving the vehicle from the first location to the remote work site; obtaining at the remote work site the orthogonal wooden plank; obtaining at the remote work site a pair of free standing A-frame ladders each including a plurality of steps for climbing the ladder; positioning the free standing ladders on either side of the air conditioning unit; positioning the plank to rest on a step in each ladder and to extend horizontally over the air conditioning unit from one of the ladders to the other of the ladders; pivoting the first side and top to the first open operative position; mounting the lifting unit on the plank such that the plank extends intermediate the wheels and the upper surface of the lifting unit such that said wheels freely roll along said upper surface; pivoting the first side and top to the second closed operative position; manually pushing the lifting unit along the plank to a position above the compressor in the air conditioning unit; utilizing the winch to lift the compressor upwardly out of the air conditioning unit; manually pushing the lifting unit along the plank to a position to remove the compressor from the winch; removing the compressor from the winch; removing the lifting unit from the plank and placing the lifting unit on the transport vehicle; storing the ladders and the plank at the remote site; and, driving the transport vehicle from the remote work site to the first location. Each of the foregoing steps is carried out by the same individual.

Turning now to the drawings, which describe the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an air conditioning maintenance system in accordance with the invention and including an orthogonal lifting unit 15, orthogonal plank 22, and a pair of free standing A-frame ladders 20 and 21. Ladders 20 and 21 each include, in conventional fashion, a series of spaced apart horizontally oriented steps that an individual uses to climb the ladder. Orthogonal plank 22 includes a planar upper surface, a planar bottom surface that is spaced apart from and parallel to the planar upper surface, and includes a pair of spaced apart parallel sides which extend between and interconnect the upper and bottom surfaces. The upper and bottom surfaces have a width equal to something less than twelve inches. The side surfaces have a width equal to something less than two inches. In FIG. 4, wheels 23 and 25 set on the upper surface of plank 22.

Lifting unit 15 includes planar top 27, and planar bottom 28 that is generally parallel to top 27. Planar side 29 extends between and is normal to top 27 and bottom 28. Planar side 30 extends between and is normal to top 27 and bottom 28. Side 30 is also spaced apart from and parallel to planar side 29. Top 27, bottom 28, and sides 29 and 30 circumscribe hollow inner area 31. Unit 15 includes a pair of spaced apart open ends. In FIG. 3, one of the open ends is on the left hand side of unit 15 while the other of the open ends is on the right hand side of unit 15. Plank 22 extends into the open end on the left hand side of unit 15, extends through unit 15, and extends out through the open end on the right hand side of unit 15.

At least one pair of wheels 23 and 24 is rotatably mounted on side 30 in hollow area 31 a first selected distance above bottom 28. At least one pair of wheels 25 and 26 is rotatably mounted on side 29 in hollow area 31 a second selected distance above bottom 28. The first and second selected distances are sufficient to permit plank 22 to extend intermediate bottom 28 and wheels 23 to 26 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The distance of one wheel 23 above bottom 28 can vary from that of the remaining wheels 24 to 26, and, the size of one wheel 23 with respect to that of the remaining wheels 24 to 26 can vary. However, it is presently preferred that each wheel 23 to 26 have a size equivalent to the other wheels 23 to 26 and that the distance of each wheel above bottom 28 be equivalent.

When unit 15 is properly oriented on plank 22, only the wheels 23 to 26 contact plank 22. The top 27, bottom 28, and sides 29, 30 are spaced apart from plank 22 such that the wheels 23 to 26 of unit 15 can freely roll along the upper surface of plank 22 without any other part of unit 15 contacting plank 22. Sides 29 and 30 are, however, preferably spaced only a short distance apart from the sides of plank 22. The distance of a side 29, 30 from a side of plank 22 is in the range of 1/16 of an inch to one inch, preferably in the range of 1/16 of an inch to one-half inch. The short distance between the sides of plank 22 and sides 29 and 30 means that if unit 15 begins to move off line and is not moving in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of plank 22, the sides 29 and 30 will contact the sides of plank 22, requiring a user to reorient unit 15 such that it is moving straight along plank 22 in a direction of travel parallel to the longitudinal axis of plank 22.

Winch unit 14 is attached to and extends outwardly from bottom 28. Unit 14 includes a spindle or axle which is rotated by manually turning and operating handle 13 to deploy cable 12 from the spindle or, alternatively, to draw in and coil cable 12 about the spindle. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a drill or other mechanism can, instead of handle, be utilized to rotate the spindle to dispense or draw in cable 12.

While the maintenancing operation set forth in the following example can be carried out collectively by two or more individuals, a particular advantage of the invention is that the process can be performed by a single individual. Accordingly, in the example, reference is made to only a single technician.

EXAMPLE

An air conditioning unit 10 at a remote site is identified for maintenancing. A technician provides a lifting unit 15 at a starting location. He loads unit 15 onto a transport vehicle at a starting location. The transport vehicle is driven by the technician from the starting location to the remote site. The technician prepares compressor 11 for removal from air conditioning unit 10. He removes the lifting unit 15 from the transport vehicle. He locates a plank 22 at the remote site, and locates a pair of free-standing A frame ladders at the remote site. He places each ladder 20, 21 on an opposite side of air conditioning unit 10 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. The ladders (along with plank 22) are located at the remote site by unloading them from the transport vehicle, by obtaining them from other source before the transport vehicle reaches the remote site or after the transport vehicle reaches the site. Each ladder 20, 21 includes a plurality of spaced apart steps (not visible) utilized by an individual to climb the ladder. Plank 22 is mounted by the technician in a horizontal orientation on ladders 20 and 21 such that one end of plank 22 is supported by a step on ladder 20 and the other end of plank 22 is supported by a step on ladder 21. Plank 22 is positioned on ladders 20 and 21 at a sufficient height above air conditioning unit 10 to permit compressor 11 to be raised clear of unit 10 so that the compressor 11 and unit 15 can be rolled along plank 22 in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 1) to a position in which compressor 11 is no longer over air conditioning unit 10. Lifting unit 15 is mounted by the technician on plank 22 and is manually pushed so that wheels 23 to 26 roll along the top surface of plank 22 to a desired position with winch unit 14 positioned over a compressor 11 in air conditioning unit 10. The technician operates winch unit 14 to extend cable 12 down to compressor 11. He connects cable 12 to compressor 11 and operates winch unit 14 to draw cable 12 about the spindle in unit 14 to lift compressor 11 upwardly out and clear of air conditioning unit 10. Lifting unit 15 is manually pushed by the technician such that wheels 23 to 26 roll over the upper surface of plank 22 and unit 15 moves in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1 to the position indicated by dashed lines 15A and 11A in FIG. 1. He then removes the compressor 11A from cable 12. If desired, before compressor 11A is removed from cable 12, winch unit 14 can be operated such that cable 12 is extended and compressor 11A drops to a position on the ground or on some other surface below compressor 11A. The lifting unit 15 is placed by the technician in the transport vehicle and he drives the vehicle back to the starting location or to some other location. The ladders 20 and 21 and plank 22 can be stored at the remote location by loading them on the transport vehicle, or by storing them at some other selected location. The ladders 20 and 21 and plank 22 can be returned to the starting location or can be transported to some other location. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a new compressor can be installed in air conditioning unit 10 by simply reversing the sequence of steps described in this paragraph in order to remove the compressor 11 from unit 10.

Unit 15 can be mounted on plank 22 utilizing any desired procedure. In one procedure, unit 15 is rolled onto one end of plank 22 before plank 22 is mounted on ladders 20 and 21. In another procedure, one side 29 is temporarily removed from unit 15 and the remaining portions of unit 15 are laterally moved onto plank 22, after which side 29 is reattached to unit 15. A further procedure for mounting unit 15 on plank 22 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and can be readily achieved by an individual, as can setting up ladders 20 and 21, and mounting plank 22 in the ladders. The lower end of side 29 is pivotally attached to bottom 28 by a piano hinge 50 extending along one edge of bottom 28. Latch 51 detachably secures top 27 to lip 52. When latch 51 is opened, top 27 and side 29 are pivoted about hinge 50 in the direction of arrow C to an open position which permits bottom 28, side 30, and wheels 23 and 24 to be laterally slid in the direction of arrow onto plank 22 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Once bottom 28, side 30, and wheels 23 and 24 are in the position depicted in FIG. 5, top 27 and side 29 are pivoted about hinge 50 in the direction of arrow D back to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and latch 51 is manipulated to secure top 27 to lip 52.

One advantage of the invention is that specialized support structures are not, as is the case in the prior art, required to utilize lifting unit 15. Another advantage of the invention is the lifting unit 15 is utilized with common construction equipment that can readily be found in many different locations. A further advantage of the invention is that the common construction equipment that is utilized in combination with lifting unit 15 can, after being utilized with lifting unit 15, be utilized in a variety of other construction projects. Still another advantage of the invention is that when lifting unit 15 is transported to a work site, specialized support structures need not be transported with unit 15. Still a further advantage of the maintenance system of the invention is that it can be operated by a single individual. Yet still another advantage of the invention is that plank 22 and ladders 20 and 21 can readily be carried on pickup trucks that often are utilized by individual maintenancing air conditioning units. Yet still a further advantage of the invention is that plank 22 and ladders 20 and 21 can, instead of be located at the remote site at which an air conditioning unit is being maintenance, be loaded onto a vehicle with a lifting unit 15 before the vehicle departs for the remote site, or, at some intermediate location at which the vehicle stops on the way to the remote site.

Having set forth the presently preferred embodiments of our invention in such terms as to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A method for an individual to maintenance at a remote site an air conditioning unit which includes a compressor, comprising the steps of (a) providing at a first location a lifting unit for use in conjunction with a horizontally oriented elongate orthogonal wood plank having an upper surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of parallel spaced apart edges, said lifting unit including (i) a hollow generally orthogonal housing including a top, a bottom opposed to and spaced apart from said top, a first side interconnecting said top and said bottom, a second side interconnecting said top and said bottom and spaced apart and opposed to said first side and pivotally attached to said bottom, a first open end, and a second open end spaced apart from and opposed to said first open end, said top, bottom, and sides circumscribing a hollow inner area, (ii) at least a first pair of wheels rotatably mounted on said first side in said hollow inner area a first selected distance above said bottom, (iii) at least a second pair of wheels rotatably mounted on said second side in said hollow inner area a second selected distance above said bottom and opposed to and spaced apart from said first pair of wheels, (iv) a winch mounted on and extending outwardly away from said bottom and said hollow inner area, said lifting unit shaped and dimensioned to mount on the orthogonal wood plank such that the plank extends from and through said first open end to and through said second open end, and intermediate said wheels and said bottom surface such that said wheels freely roll along said upper surface, said first side and top being pivotally adjustable between two operative positions, a first open operative position which permits said lifting unit to be laterally slid onto to plank, and a second closed operative position; (b) mounting said lifting unit on a transport vehicle at said first location separate from the remote work site to maintenance the air conditioning unit; (c) driving said vehicle from said first location to the remote work site; (d) obtaining while at the remote work site the orthogonal wooden plank; (e) obtaining while at the remote work site a pair of free standing A-frame ladders each including a plurality of steps for climbing the ladder; (f) positioning said free standing ladders on either side of the air conditioning unit; (g) positioning the plank to rest on a step in each ladder and to extend horizontally over the air conditioning unit from one of said ladders to the other of said ladders; (h) pivoting said first side and top to said first open operative position; (i) laterally mounting said lifting unit on the plank such that the plank extends intermediate said wheels and said upper surface of the plank such that said wheels freely roll along said upper surface; (j) pivoting said first side and top to said second closed operative position; (k) manually pushing said lifting unit along the plank to a position above the compressor in the air conditioning unit; (l) utilizing said winch to lift the compressor upwardly out of the air conditioning unit; (m) manually pushing said lifting unit along the plank to a position to remove the compressor from the winch; (n) removing the compressor from the winch; (o) removing said lifting unit from the plank and placing said lifting unit on the transport vehicle; (p) storing while at said remote site said ladders and said plank; and, (q) driving said transport vehicle from the remote work site to said first location; each of said above steps carried out by the same individual. 